On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P02204
- Author
- Mengs, Anton Rafael (German)
- Title
- The Adoration of the Shepherds
- Chronology
- Ca. 1770
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 256 cm x 190 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
A group of shepherds surround the
Virgin and Child with different
expressions of adoration, defining
a broad semicircle which includes
Saint Joseph, who is seated, and
the painter himself, who appears at
the left, pointing out the
miraculous event.
This work is directly inspired by
La Notte (Dresden, Gemäldegalerie),
a painting on the same subject by
Correggio (1493-1534) that was very
influential among
eighteenth-century painters. The
composition reveals a profound
study of perspective and of
illumination. It uses a strong play
of lights and shadows marked by the
light emitted by the Christ Child,
which defines the other
volumes.
The success of Correggio's
composition and its impact on Mengs
is proven by the existence of
various replicas he made on
different types of supports.
Location on the map
